Ari Shapiro

You could have chosen to stay and try to work within the system. What was the tipping point that made you decide leaving was the best choice?

You could have chosen to stay and try to work within the system. What was the tipping point that made you decide leaving was the best choice?

You could have chosen to stay and try to work within the system. What was the tipping point that made you decide leaving was the best choice?

Cross ethical and legal lines how?

Cross ethical and legal lines how?

Cross ethical and legal lines how?

DK was, until earlier this week, an employee at the Department of Government Efficiency. She, along with 20 of her colleagues, left Doge in protest. Thank you for speaking with us.

DK was, until earlier this week, an employee at the Department of Government Efficiency. She, along with 20 of her colleagues, left Doge in protest. Thank you for speaking with us.

DK was, until earlier this week, an employee at the Department of Government Efficiency. She, along with 20 of her colleagues, left Doge in protest. Thank you for speaking with us.

This episode was produced by Mia Venkat. It was edited by Natalie Winston, Ben Swayze, Courtney Dorning, and Nadia Lancey with audio engineering by Ted Meebane. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

This episode was produced by Mia Venkat. It was edited by Natalie Winston, Ben Swayze, Courtney Dorning, and Nadia Lancey with audio engineering by Ted Meebane. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

This episode was produced by Mia Venkat. It was edited by Natalie Winston, Ben Swayze, Courtney Dorning, and Nadia Lancey with audio engineering by Ted Meebane. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

We're standing at the edge of this beautiful river. I can see little fish swimming just under the surface. There's a small hand-carved wooden canoe floating under a tree. What does this body of water mean to you?

We're standing at the edge of this beautiful river. I can see little fish swimming just under the surface. There's a small hand-carved wooden canoe floating under a tree. What does this body of water mean to you?

We're standing at the edge of this beautiful river. I can see little fish swimming just under the surface. There's a small hand-carved wooden canoe floating under a tree. What does this body of water mean to you?

This river is my whole life, says 60-year-old Digna Benite. She smiles wistfully under her straw hat. She grew up here on the Rio Indio in a small village in Panama called Limón de Chagres. She would play in the water while her father caught fish. The water is so clean and calm, she says, it rises and falls. For me, it's harmony. A long, narrow boat pulls up.

This river is my whole life, says 60-year-old Digna Benite. She smiles wistfully under her straw hat. She grew up here on the Rio Indio in a small village in Panama called Limón de Chagres. She would play in the water while her father caught fish. The water is so clean and calm, she says, it rises and falls. For me, it's harmony. A long, narrow boat pulls up.

This river is my whole life, says 60-year-old Digna Benite. She smiles wistfully under her straw hat. She grew up here on the Rio Indio in a small village in Panama called Limón de Chagres. She would play in the water while her father caught fish. The water is so clean and calm, she says, it rises and falls. For me, it's harmony. A long, narrow boat pulls up.

Digna Benite and a younger man named Oligario Cedeno help us climb in, and we pull away from the shore. The boat pulls over to the edge of the Rio Indio and we climb up some steep stairs that are basically carved into the mud bank. Oligario, what are you showing us? Here I'm showing you where the dam would be, he says. The Rio Indio Dam.

Digna Benite and a younger man named Oligario Cedeno help us climb in, and we pull away from the shore. The boat pulls over to the edge of the Rio Indio and we climb up some steep stairs that are basically carved into the mud bank. Oligario, what are you showing us? Here I'm showing you where the dam would be, he says. The Rio Indio Dam.